Runaway Bride

The next morning a car was parked out front, Mrs. Johnson, his housekeeper was there, but the Sheriff was gone. Savannah dressed in his sister's clothes again and rushed out and into the kitchen.

  "I'm sorry, I overslept, I guess. Has the Sheriff left?"

  "Yes, he said something about your car being towed. Said he'd be back directly. I'm Mrs. Johnson, you must be ..."

  "Savannah Kingsley," she smiled at the older lady. She was tall, and thin, and in her late fifties or sixties. Attractive though for her age, Savannah thought.

  "What a pretty name." The way she was smiling made Savannah wonder what was going on, but she said nothing. "Are you by any chance kin to Lucy Harper?"

  "Why yes, I am. She's my aunt."

  "Your aunt, well, I swan, if that don't beat all. Don't know why I thought of Lucy, but she used to talk about her sister's family a lot. And they never visited her so everyone kind of thought she made them up or something. But I remember her talking about the Kingsley's, not a name you forget. I'm so glad you came for a visit. She'll be so sorry she missed you. She hasn't had a relative visit in so long; she might faint from the shock of it."

  "Well, that's odd that she talked about us at all, since my parents haven't spoken to her in years. It happened long ago. I don't even think Mother remembers why."

  "Oh, that's a shame, a real shame. That's so sad. Families shouldn't be that way. Life's too short."

  "Yes, you are so right... Aunt Lucy had always been so kind to me. She's the first person I thought about when I left home."

  When Mrs. Johnson went back to work, Savannah felt she had to keep the conversation flowing.

  "I had car trouble out on the highway yesterday. My clothes were a mess and I didn't have a place to stay, so the Sheriff ..."

  "You don't have to explain to me, dear. I figured as much. Ben hasn't entertained a girl here in quite some time. No—that isn't right either. He's never entertained anyone but his family here."

  "Really, why not?" It just shot out of her mouth and she could have killed herself for it, but it was too late, the damage was done.

  "I don't really know for certain." The woman glanced at her again and smiled. "Lots of young girls in these parts have been interested, but Ben just doesn't respond to them for some reason. I suspect he's looking for something very special in a lady." Mrs. Johnson said and shook her head. "Are—are you married Ms. Kingsley?"

  "No, not me. I've just been stranded here, that's all," she explained. "I'll be on my way as soon as my car is fixed. I'll probably stay with my aunt for a while, though."

  "A photographer, are you?" Mrs. Johnson nodded toward her camera equipment in the corner of the kitchen.

  "Well...no, not really. I do a little magazine work on occasions. It's something I've always been interested in."

  "How exciting. What do you photograph?"

  "Animals mostly," she sighed. "Nature scenes. Anything that I find amusing."

  "Must be an exciting job." Mrs. Johnson proceeded to peel some potatoes.

  "Well, it could take me places, that's for sure." Her one and only photography job and been during her last vacation in Kenya. The magazine she had sent them to loved them and published them. Pursuing it was her dream, but her parents balked at the idea, telling her she didn't need a job that could take her away from her husband and family. That was two years ago.

  Mrs. Johnson set breakfast on the kitchen table, then put an ironing board in one corner and began pressing Ben's uniform shirts. She worked steadily with some satisfaction in what she was doing, by the way she took such care of the clothing.

  "Have you worked here long?"

  "Oh my yes, off and on for three years. Ever since Ben became Sheriff."

  "You sound very fond of him." Savannah watched the older woman take such pains with his shirt.

  "Oh, if I'd have had a son, he'd be the one I'd want. My husband and I couldn't have children, I'm afraid. We tried for years, it just didn't happen. But Ben, why he's a dear, the perfect gentleman. Junction couldn't ask for a better Sheriff."

  Surely the housekeeper wasn't trying to play match-maker. No, she just had her head in the wrong clouds, Savannah reasoned. Just because Ben Hogg was handsome as the devil himself, and happened to be a Sheriff, and rescued her from hell, didn't mean she had to go falling for him. She didn't trust men, and she had to remember that before she found herself falling again.

  As she ate the scrambled eggs and toast. She'd decide later, what to do. She knew she had to get her car fixed, but what could she do in the meantime. If only she had her identification, and could go to her Aunt's house, and she'd be fine. In fact, it might be better that her aunt wasn't home. After all, it had been years since anyone in her family had spoken to Aunt Lucy. She wasn't sure of her welcome.